Mercedes’ George Russell wants FIA to make new rule to ease ‘brutal’ F1

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George Russell has now recommended a ‘good’ new rule that the Mercedes ace wants the FIA to introduce to Formula One to complement the sport’s existing summer break.

The F1 paddock is in hibernation right now after 12 of the 22 rounds still on the calendar for 2023. There is no on-track action for a full month between the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa and the Dutch GP at Zandvoort. Formula One drivers must wait 26 days to turn the wheel again.

In that time, the 10 teams must also shut down their factories for a full two weeks. The FIA even mandates the summer break in F1’s sporting regulations with penalties for those who dare break it. Teams can only allow a strict few members of staff still carry out specific tasks.

Why did the FIA mandate a 14-day summer break for F1 and what is it?

An enforced 14-day summer break stops the F1 teams from working on any changes to their car’s design. That includes any development plans or the production of new parts, counting for machining parts and using a wind tunnel. They also cannot plan to or hold any meetings.

Should any driver damage their car in the F1 Grand Prix before the summer break, the team can ask the FIA for permission to repair such items. But Article 21.8 of the FIA’s F1 sporting regulations effectively only allows for activities unrelated to the operations of the 10 teams.

The FIA incorporated the summer break into F1’s rule book to ensure all staff members got a defined rest period in the middle of the season after the calendar exceeded 20 Grands Prix a year. While its penalty system prevents the teams from possibly gaining an unfair advantage.

What has Mercedes driver George Russell said about the summer break?

Mercedes driver Russell is fully in favour of the FIA’s current summer break, even though he admits that it is not necessarily intended for the 20 F1 drivers. Instead, the rule benefits the engineers and designers who would otherwise work throughout a year to improve the cars.

But such are the benefits of the summer break that Russell also wants the FIA to introduce a winter break. The Briton feels an enforced break between each season will ease the ‘brutal’ nature of F1. There are 87 days from the last race in 2023 and the first 2024 pre-season test.

“I think the summer break is a really great thing for everyone in the sport,” Russell said, via quotes by Motorsport Total. “I think we’re all so motivated and determined. Everyone feels like a little warrior in their own way and just wants to persevere.

“But I also think everyone realises how important this two-week break is. You can totally relax and regenerate but maybe also gather new ideas on how to improve.

“It’s nice that we as a sport have this opportunity. I think there’s talk of that for the winter. Of course, it’s more for the engineers and designers in the factories. It’s a brutal sport, incredibly intense. I think that would probably be a good addition.”